Gaseous discharge device



March 8,1949. P. w. STUTSMAN 2,463,577

' GASEOUS DiSCHARGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1947 lNl/ENTOF? 9401. WSTUEMAN Patented Mar. 8, 1949 GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICE Paul W. Stutsman,Needham, Mass, assignor to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Newton, Mass,a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1947, Serial No.724,188

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to space discharge devices and more particularlyto means for supporting electrodes therein.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means forsupporting electrodes in a vitreous body positioned within a device ofthe type above described, in a manner which will overcome any tendencyfor strains to develop in the vitreous to metal bonds where there existsa difference in the coefiicient of expansion between said materials.

Another object is to provide means for properly anchoring carbon tometal in electrode construction that will insure a rigidly integratedunit.

The above and other objects will present themselves as the descriptionof the present invention progresses and by reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in cross section of a space discharge deviceembodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a magnified view disclosing more clearly the illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

Referring now, more particularly to Fig. 1, the reference numeralillustrates a portion of a vitreous envelope containing a rod-like anodestructure ll including an electrically conductive lead-in member I2, ananode 13, preferably a carbon rod, and an electrically conductive sleevel surrounding portions of said members l2 and It in such a manner as toform said rod-like anode structure.

That portion of the conductive sleeve [4 surrounding the member l2 maybe, and preferably is, secured to said member l2 by welding while theother portion of said conductive sleeve M is secured to the anode l3 bycrimping said conductive sleeve 14 around the circumference 15 thereofin such a manner that it becomes substantially impossible to dislodgesaid anode E3. The foregoing manner of securing the anode within thesleeve M, in contradistinction to the practice of providing a slidablefit and depending on friction to retain the anode in place, has provenits value when used in conjunction with electron discharge devices ofthe type described and claimed in a copending application of Paul W.Stutsman, Serial No. 647,463, filed February 14-, 1946 now Patent No.2,435,286.

In the above-mentioned application, the anode employed may be, forexample, of the order of .050 inch thick. Thus, for example, when spacedischarge devices utilizing such diminutive anodes subject said anodesto voltages of the order of 1000 volts and higher in conjunction, by wayof illustration, with rectifying circuits, in a very short time saidanodes become dislodged and materially depreciate the life span of thedevice utilizing same. Therefore, the manner of securing such anodes, asdescribed herein, overcomes this undesirable condition and provideslonger operating life for devices utilizing the illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

In the present embodiment the lead-in member l2 has its opposite endembedded in a vitreous body it which is integral with the envelope l0.Said opposite end continues on through the glass body I 6 and issuitably secured to a conductive cap I9. An electrically conductiveanode shield l l is also embedded in said vitreous body and surroundssaid anode structure Ii, the space intermediate the anode shield H andsaid anode structure being sufliciently short to prevent the occurrenceof a discharge therethrough. The end [8 of said conductive anode shieldis flared outwardly. This particular feature permits the vitreous bodyIE to flow more readily in the space intermediate the lead-in member [2and said anode shield and thereby provides more substantial anchoring ofthe anode shield in said vitreous body.

Surrounding the conductive shield member IT is a vitreous sleeve 20, oneend of which is made integral with the vitreous body I 6 of the envelopel0. The free end of said sleeve 20 projects slightly into a hollowcathode 2i. Space 22 is provided within the free end of said sleeve 20for the formation of a positive ion space charge in accordance with thedescription in the above-mentioned pending application of Paul W.Stutsman.

In Fig. 2 the greatly magnified view of the anode structure H, the anodeshield ii and the vitreous body i ii clearly illustrates the manner inwhich the aforementioned elements are supported. One of the features,which it is desired to emphasize, is the formation of myriads of minutecells, having substantially flexible walls in the vitreous body adjacentsaid lead-in member I2 and the flared end it of the anode shield. Bydeliberately using a material for the anode shield which is non-wettingand gassy, as, for ex ample, nickel, the area of said vitreous body itadjacent said anode shield ii is caused to form aforesaid cells when thevitreous body is fused to said anode shield. The result of such cellularformation is a substantially flexible seal between said anode shield I 1and the vitreous body is that I is capable of withstanding strains dueto any difierence in the coefficients of expansion between 3 thematerials of said vitreous body and anode shield.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated anddescribed has been selected for the purpose of setting forth theprinciples involved. It will be obvious, however, that the invention maybe modified to meet various conditions which may be encountered indifferent specific uses, and it. is, therefore, intended to cover by theappended claims all such modifications which fall within the spirit andscope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical space discharge device comprising: an envelopeincluding a vitreous body; and a conducting member disposed in said. ensvelope and supported in but not passing through said vitreous body; saidvitreous body including a multiplicity of gas cells limited to thevicinity of the support of said conducting member.

2. An electrical space discharge device comprising: an envelopeincluding a vitreous body; and a conducting member, made, of a,gas-releasing and non-wettable material, disposed in said envelope andsupported in but not passing through said vitreous body; said vitreousbody including a multiplicity of gas cells limited to the vicinity ofthe support of said conducting memher.

3. An electrical space discharge device comprising: an envelopeincluding a vitreous body; an electrode disposed in said envelope andsealed through said vitreous body; and a shield spaced from andsurrounding said electrode and having one end thereof supported in butnot passing through said Vitreous body; said vitreous body including amultiplicity of gas cells limited to the vicinity of the support of saidshield.

4. An electrical space discharge device comprising: an envelopeincluding a vitreous body; an electrode disposed in said envelope andsealed through said vitreous body; and a shield being made of nickel andspaced from and surrounding said electrode and, having one end thereofsupported in but not passing through said vitreous body; said vitreousbody including a multiplicity of gas cells limited to the vicinity ofthe support of said" shield.

PAUL W. STUTSMAN.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

789,515 Whitney May 9, 1905. 2,051,457 Mulder et a1. Aug. 18, 19362,075,208 Krenzien Mar. 30, 19.37 2,373,175 Depp Apr, 10, 1945

